In an electrifying conclusion to this year’s edition of The Hundred, the Oval Invincibles emerged victorious yet again, defending their title with a commendable win over Southern Brave at the iconic Lord’s on Sunday. Skipper Sam Billings led his team to secure their second consecutive title in a match filled with drama, skill, and high-octane cricketing moments.
The Invincibles showcased remarkable consistency throughout the season, culminating in a performance that matched the accomplishments of their women’s team. The women’s team made headlines with back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, a feat their male counterparts have now emulated with titles in 2023 and 2024. This dual dominance underscores the strength and depth of talent within the franchise.
Adding to the historical context of the match, captain Sam Billings became the first skipper to lift The Hundred trophy twice, having also led the Invincibles to glory in 2023. Billings’ leadership, coupled with a strategic approach, played a crucial role in guiding his team through tight situations and ensuring their success on the grand stage.
The final match saw Southern Brave winning the toss and opting to bowl first, putting the defending champions Oval Invincibles to the test with the bat. Will Jacks set the tone for the Invincibles with a blazing knock of 37 runs off just 22 balls. His aggressive start provided the necessary momentum which was further built upon by Sam Curran (25 from 20 balls), Jordan Cox (25 from 17 balls), and a quickfire 24 from 11 balls by Tom Curran. These contributions collectively took the team’s total to a challenging 147. It was now up to Southern Brave to achieve the highest chase recorded at Lord’s in the competition’s history.
In response, the opening partnership of Alex Davies and captain James Vince provided Southern Brave with a solid foundation. Their 58-run stand put the Brave in a promising position. However, the Invincibles’ bowling unit, spearheaded by Adam Zampa, struck back decisively.
. Zampa dismissed Davies with a well-disguised googly during his second set of five deliveries, breaking the opening partnership and providing a crucial breakthrough for his team.
Will Jacks, after his impactful performance with the bat, showcased his all-round abilities by dismissing James Vince. Vince, who was not only the Southern Brave skipper but also the highest run-scorer of the tournament, fell for 24. With the situation appearing under control for the Southern Brave, Nathan Sowter’s leg-spin added to their woes by removing James Coles.
At this juncture, Southern Brave seemed to have the match within their grasp, needing 53 runs from the final 30 balls with seven wickets still intact. However, this seemingly comfortable chase was dramatically upended by Saqib Mahmood’s exceptional spell of reverse swing bowling. Mahmood’s seven balls fundamentally changed the game as he captured three critical wickets, removing Leus du Plooy with a late-seaming delivery, pinning Kieron Pollard for a duck, and having Laurie Evans caught at covers.
Mahmood’s brilliance shifted the game’s momentum towards the Invincibles. Adam Zampa further compounded Southern Brave’s troubles by cleaning up Chris Jordan. Despite a valiant effort from Craig Overton, who scored 22 runs off 11 balls, Southern Brave fell tantalizingly short of the target by 17 runs. This failure to secure the required runs confirmed Oval Invincibles’ supremacy and allowed them to retain their title.
The thrilling contest highlighted the unpredictability and excitement inherent in The Hundred format, a tournament that continues to captivate cricket fans worldwide with its fast-paced and enthralling style of play. The Invincibles’ victory was a testament to their resilience, strategic acumen, and depth of talent, solidifying their status as one of the premier teams in the competition’s young history.
As the players celebrated their well-deserved victory, the echoes of their triumph resonated through Lord’s, a fitting venue for such a historic achievement. Sam Billings and his squad have not only defended their title but have also set a benchmark of excellence that future teams will aspire to match.
